Volume 15, Number 2, July 2005

ILA Fall Conference

ILA/ACRL is sponsoring four sessions at the upcoming ILA Fall Conference to be held in Dubuque, Iowa on October 19-21. Below, you will find information about all of these sessions, including the pre-conference! If you are attending ILA, we hope you will find these sessions of interest.

Introduction to Digital Imaging - Pre-conference with Richard Urban, Colorado Digitization Program in conjunction with BCR.

As we continue our charge into the digital age and our patrons request greater electronic access to information, libraries and other cultural institutions are being confronted with the need to convert printed resources into a digital format. This is a daunting prospect for staff because of the many questions raised by digitization work. What type of equipment is appropriate for the scale of the project? How should the digital images be stored? What is the best file format and image size for the resources being digitized? When should a project be outsourced because it is just too large for the library to undertake on its own and how should we go about this? This workshop will address these and other questions by providing an overview of basic digital imaging techniques. It is recommended for staff engaging in digital imaging work and does not require any previous experience with digitization. Richard Urban from the Colorado Digitization Program will introduce participants to the Western States Digital Imaging Best Practices, quality control issues, and storage options. Participants will have the opportunity to work with a flatbed scanner to get hands-on experience in creating and saving scanned images. More specifically, the agenda will include the following topics:

• General introduction, including definitions
• Image capture
• File formats and compression
• Image sizing
• Selecting digital imaging hardware
• Managing color, calibration
• Quality control including Benchmarking and formulas
• Outsourcing
• Hands on exercises

Reference Success, Reference Failure Presented by Dave Tyckoson, Head of Public Services, Henry Madden Library, California State University – Fresno.

This program will show attendees what reference service looks like from the patron side of the desk. Based on the ALA/RUSA Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers, this session will demonstrate how the behavior of the librarian affects patron satisfaction. Attendees will: participate in a study that demonstrates how our activities at the desk influence patron willingness to ask a question (Approachability); witness examples of nonverbal behavior that encourage or discourage patrons (Interest); observe role-playing of some sample reference transactions that demonstrate positive and negative forms of verbal and non-verbal communication (Listening/Inquiry); and see how confirming that patrons have found what they want leads to reference success (Follow-Up). By seeing how patrons see us, attendees can get a better understanding of reference behavior.

Reference Desk Live! Presented by Dave Tyckoson, Head of Public Services, Henry Madden Library, California State University – Fresno.

And now for something completely different. Tiered reference, roving reference, reference by appointment, virtual reference, traditional reference – a wide range of reference models have been proposed or adopted during the past decade. All of these models are designed to provide better service to our patrons – or are they?? Take a humorous look at various models of reference service taken to their extremes. Using characters and scenes from popular culture, this program will entertain and maybe even inform you about reference service. Join us at Rick’s American Library for some intrigue, romance, and maybe even a little magic. Who knew that reference service could be so much fun!

Assessing Services in Academic Libraries

The rapid pace of change in how information is collected and disseminated makes it challenging for libraries to monitor and meet the needs and expectations of the populations they serve. In this session, academic librarians from a public university, a private university, and a community college will share the methods and results used in assessing services and user needs in their respective institutions. (Participants are David Gregory, Iowa State University; John Pollitz, St. Ambrose University; Lisa Stock, Des Moines Area Community College). -- Submitted by Becky Lutkenhaus.

Scholarships available to attend the 2005 ILA Annual Conference

The Awards Committee of ILA/ACRL announces the availability of two scholarship awards to attend the ILA Annual Conference, October 19-21, 2005 at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa. There are two award categories for this year’s ILA Annual Conference Scholarship Award. The first award category will be given to a new librarian working in an Iowa academic library and the second award category will be given to a library support personnel or a library science student. The second award is a one-time award donated by the ILA/ACRL sponsored conference speaker, David Tyckoson, who has requested that $250 of his honorarium be directed for this purpose. The scholarship awards will cover the conference registration fee and up to $150 in travel, hotel and meal expenses. Award winners will be reimbursed for scholarship expenses after the conference.

Scholarship Award Number 1

Applicants must be paid members of ILA/ACRL, working in an Iowa academic library, and either:
a) be attending their first ILA Annual Conference OR
b) have worked in Iowa for fewer than three years.

Scholarship Award Number 2

Applicants must be either:
a) a library science student OR
b) a library support personnel working in an Iowa academic library.

Applicants for Scholarship Award Number 2 do not have to be paid members of ILA/ACRL.

September 11, 2005 is the deadline date for applications. Winners will be notified by September 27. The application form will be available shortly at our Web site: http://www.iowaacrl.org/. -- Submitted by Ellen Neuhaus – 2005 Awards Committee Chair.

ILA/ACRL Opportunities

Please consider participating in the ILA/ACRL through volunteering for one of the ILA/ACRL Committees or by running for office: Vice-President/President elect, Secretary-Treasurer, or member-at large.

Committees and officer positions are descirbed at: http://www.iowaacrl.org/organization/people/2005.htm

Volunteer form:
http://www.iowaacrl.org/organization/volunteer.html

If you are interested, please contact one the committee members: Rebecca Stuhr, stuhrr@grinnell.edu, Leo Clougherty, leo-clougherty@uiowa.edu, Jean Donham, jdonham@cornellcollege.edu, Kathy Magarrell, kathy-magarrell@uiowa.edu, or Arron Wings, awings@kirkwood.edu.

Looking Forward to 2006: ILA/ACRL Spring Conference

The 2006 ILA/ACRL Spring Conference will be held at the University of Iowa, Iowa Memorial Union, on April 21. As in past years, we will be sending out a call for papers. We are in the process of forming the Spring Planning Committee now, if you are interested in participating please contact Rebecca Stuhr (stuhrr@grinnell.edu or 641-269-3674).

Treasurer's Report Balance in account as of 07/18/05: $9,404.83 ACRL National Account: Balance in account: $24.00 -- Submitted by Steve Ostrem

Ad Hoc Education Report The ILA/ACRL Education Task Force is charged with identifying the current status of educational opportunities for professional librarians and library support staff in Iowa. We are also charged with identifying the key players in education for library staff. If you know of educational opportunities for library staff or key players for education for library staff, please email this information to jcampagna@eicc.edu or call Jane Campagna at 563-441-4152. The members of this Task Force are: Susan Knippel, Susan Moore, Linda Nelson, Sheryl Taylor, Jennifer Wolfe, and Jane Campagna. -- Submitted by Jane Campagna.

Ad Hoc Research Report The ILA/ACRL Research Committee would like to support the professional development of librarians and library support personnel by offering monetary awards for research, publications, and presentations at regional, national, and international conferences.  The committee is in the early stages of drafting proposals for these awards to be submitted to ILA by fall. -- Submitted by Kathy Magarrell.   ACRL Chapters Council Representative Report At ALA, the Chapters Council held their bi-annual meeting. We had many guest speakers including Frances Maloy, Mary Ellen Davis, Camila Alire and Pam Snelson. Camila Alire, ACRL President Elect, spoke about grassroots advocacy and there will be a session entitled "Power of Personal Persuasion" at ALA in New Orleans in 2006. She is also working on developing a toolkit related to this topic. Dr. Alire also emphasized the speakers fund that chapters can take advantage of. If our local chapter would like to have any of the ACRL Presidents speak at a local event, funding is provided for them to do so although the soonest available would be in 2007. Mary Ellen Davis, ACRL Executive Director, spoke on marketing ACRL events and using virtual learning to reach out to librarians. Our chapter is elligible to submit a strategic initiative action plan for grant money if the plan fits one of these criteria: Increase the number of academic and research librarian members. Increase ACRL's membership of underrepresented ethnic and racial academic and research librarians. Increase the appeal of ACRL membership to broader communities. The Council discussed orientation for new Chapters Council members and a brochure was distributed. This will be very helpful for new and current Chapters Council members as it clearly outlines what is expected for this position. Please be aware that on your ALA renewal form, if you opt out of receiving communication from vendors, you will also miss out on receiving information from chapters. Strangely, ALA divided the options into ALA & divisions and Vendors & Chapters. -- Submitted by Amy Paulus.

Ad Hoc Advocacy Report Subcommittee on Public Relations and Marketing Members Jan Dellinger (chair) Ryan Gjerde Ellen Neuhaus Amy Paulus Action Plan: Subcommittee Activity Time Period Review  the ACRL “@ your library” toolkit Summer 2005 Promote the use of the ACRL “@ your library” toolkit in ILA/ACRL newsletter and by other means Fall 2005 - Spring 2006 Survey Iowa academic libraries to identify current advocacy projects and marketing plans late Fall 2005 - early Spring 2006 Work with the ILA/ACRL Electronic Communications Committee to post information from the advocacy/marketing survey on the ILA/ACRL web site Spring 2006 (prior to the ILA/ACRL conference) Develop and present a proposal to the ILA/ACRL Executive Board for an award for the “best” marketing/public relations project at an Iowa academic library Spring 2006 Subcommittee on Serials-Open Access and Scholarly Communication Members Mary Iber (chair) Mandy Swygart-Hobaugh Ellen Neuhaus Michelle Holschuh Simmons Action plan: To create a website that can be linked to from the ILA homepage and encourage libraries in the state to link to it. There are many excellent sites already with good info and strategies on them for the scholarly communication issue. We intend to bring them under one page and share it. Subcommittee on Mentoring/Professional Development Members Mandy Swygart-Hobaugh (chair) Jan Dellinger Kate Hess Mary Iber Action Plan: The Mentoring/Professional Development Subcommittee will develop an action plan for implementing a state-wide mentoring program for newly-hired college/university librarians.  At this juncture, we envision the action plan containing the following components: Information gained by researching existing mentoring programs that will inform our program development. The established program parameters, such as expectations for participants, an application/pairing system for mentees and mentors, training of mentors, etc. A plan for launching a pilot project Materials for publicizing the program (website, brochure, ILA/ACRL newsletter, informing newly-hired IA academic librarians through e-mail, endorsements from participants, etc.) Plans for handing off the program administration after our subcommittee’s term   Subcommittee on Intellectual Freedom/Equity of Access Members Amy Paulus (chair) Kate Hess Ryan Gjerde Michelle Holschuh Simmons Action Plan: To develop a survey to distribute to academic libraries in the state of Iowa on issues relating to the USA Patriot Act and Homeland Security.  The survey will be designed to collect practices and concerns about these issues.  These findings may be presented at the following ILA/ACRL Spring Conference and/or the ILA Conference along with a panel session and/or experts in this field. -- Submitted by Michelle Holschuh Simmons.